Source: Pennsylvania, A History, George P. Donehoo, (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Co., 1926), p. 159.
Surnames: Bast, Boyer, Levan, Focht, Krommes, Reber, Reed, Coldren, Dewes
Samuel Irvin Bast - One of the leading figures in the development of the prosperity of the county through the growth and progress of his business concern, Samuel Irvin Bast, as president of the firm of J. F. Bast & Sons, Inc., is a prominent figure in the business world of this section. But he is more than a business man, and has done service to his community in various lines of advance, being an active worker in the civic life, as well as in various fraternal organizations and in church activities. Mr. Bast comes of an old American family who have been established in Pennsylvania since Colonial days, his great-great-grandfather having been a pioneer settler in Maxatawny Township, Berks County, where he lived and died. He was of Jewish origin. His family consisted of twelve sons and one daughter, and one of his sons, Gideon, became a resident of Schuylkill Haven, where he became a well known citizen. Another son was Jacob Bast, of whom further.
Jacob Bast, the great-grandfather of Mr. Bast, was born in Maxatawny Township and was a farmer by occupation. Both he and his wife, whose maiden name was Boyer, died at Hamburg, Berks County. Their children were: William; Henry, of whom further; and Isabella, who married John Levan.
Henry Bast, grandfather of Mr. Bast, was born September 24, 1820, at Macedonia, Berks County, and died May 18, 1892, at Pottsville, Pennsylvania. He learned the trade of carpenter, and lived for some time at Hamburg, Berks County, where he built the present station of the Philadelphia & Reading Company, at West Hamburg. In 1851 he came to Schuylkill County, and lived in different locations in the southern section for a number of years, part of this time on a farm near Schuylkill Haven. There he remained until 1879, following his trade of carpentry, and contractor also, and then removed to Pottsville. As the years advanced and he found the work of his trade becoming too arduous, he opened a notion and grocery store on Laurel Street, in Pottsville, and carried this on until his death. He is buried in the Union Cemetery at Schuylkill Haven. He served throughout the Civil War in the Union Army, and in his politics he was for many years a Democrat, but his sympathy with the objects of the Prohibition Party led him to affiliate himself with this party in later years. He was a consistent member of the Evangelical Church. He married Esther Focht, who was born July 22, 1822, and died January 31, 1890, and they were the parents of seven children, four sons and three daughters, among the former being Jeremiah F., of whom further.
Jeremiah F. Bast, father of Samuel Irvin Bast, was born October 13, 1841, at Rockland, Berks County, Pennsylvania. His education was obtained in the subscription schools that existed in his day, and when he reached the age of seventeen years, he began to learn the trade of carpenter with his father, and continued in that calling for a period of twenty-eight years. During part of this time he was foreman in the employ of the Philadelphia & Reading Company. In the meantime he also had started a dairy business, to provide occupation for his growing sons, and helped in carrying it on for a period of eleven years, successfully. In 1889 he commenced the business that has since been the chief interest of his family: he built a small mill in that year at Schuylkill Haven, equipping it with the most up-to-date machinery for the manufacture of cotton, woolen, worsted and silk goods; but the business gradually resolved itself into the manufacture of knit goods only, the product being ladies' cotton underwear. As the establishment began to prosper, Mr. Bast used the profits to add to its equipment and to enlarge the accommodations and facilities, and the business had a natural development, expanding as the trade demanded, until it has become one of the most important in the county. Mr. Bast wisely trained his sons to assist him in the business, and in 1911, at its incorporation, his son, Samuel Irvin Bast, was made its president, having for five years previously had charge of the concern. Great credit belongs to Mr. Bast for the substantial basis on which he founded this business, for his courage in undertaking it, and his faith in the possibilities of it, and his foresight was well rewarded, as is demonstrated by the fact that he was the first knitting-mill owner in Schuylkill County, and the second between this location and Philadelphia, the first having been at Kutztown, in Berks County. The ability that Mr. Bast displayed from the beginning in the conduct of his mill has been recognized in business circles, and he has the confidence of all with whom he was in any way associated. As his interests widened he took on new responsibilities, and he became one of the organizers of the First National Bank of Schuylkill Haven, of which he was one of the original directors, and served for many years on that board. He also helped in various local organizations that stood for the progress of the section, contributing towards the erection of several churches; he was a prominent member of the Evangelical Church at Schuylkill Haven, and gave generously to its support, serving the congregation also in many capacities, having held the offices of steward, trustee and treasurer. He was deeply interested in the public schools, and served efficiently as one of the school directors. He also was a member of the Borough Council. In his politics, he was a Republican. He was deeply interested in all matters that were for the general good and welfare, and he had well earned the title of one of the most valuable citizens of the borough. He died in December, 1918, having lived well beyond the allotted "three score years and ten," and the heritage that he left in his honorable name, that is held in the esteemed memory of his fellows, was not the least of his bestowals.
Jeremiah F. Bast married (first) January 1, 1863, Susanna Krommes, daughter of David and Lovina Krommes, who died with her daughter in 1864. He married (second) June 6, 1865, Sarah Reber, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Reed) Reber, and they were the parents of seven sons, of whom the third was Samuel Irvin, of whom further.
Samuel Irvin Bast, son of Jeremiah F. and Sarah (Reber) Bast, was born February 21, 1871, at Schuylkill Haven, and received his education in the public schools of his native town. In 1888 he entered the business of his father, and learned the industry from the bottom up, working his way through various departments until he knew the workings of the entire plant. He was in charge of the business for five years before he became a member of the firm, in 1911, when it was incorporated as J. F. Bast & Sons, Inc., and he became the president of the organization, which office he continues to hold today (1925). The business was incorporated by four of the brothers and their father, on May 12, 1911, the officers being: Samuel Irvin Bast, president; W. M. Bast, vice-president; T. F. Bast, secretary; and the father, J. F. Bast, treasurer. For a number of years the establishment had been known as the Royal Knitting Mills, but since this organization was effected, it has been known as above designated. Under this able and capable guidance, the business has grown to be among the largest in the county, Samuel Irvin Bast retaining his presidency throughout, as well as being general director, and practically in entire charge of the policy and management of the establishment. On the death of the father in 1918, the treasurership passed to the son, Homer J. Bast. The concern manufactures today all kinds of cotton and silk underwear for women and children, and they employ a force of over a hundred people, steadily at work in the various branches of the industry. They employ but two traveling salesmen, however, who have been with the firm ever since it was established in 1888, but so well known has this industry become, that its goods are in demand over a large market and area.
Mr. Bast has proved himself a splendid executive, and has not confined his energy alone to his business, but takes active part in the public life of his community. He is a director of the Schuylkill Haven State Bank, and has served on the Schuylkill Haven Board of Education since 1898, and is today its treasurer. He is a prominent member of the First Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he has been a trustee, and served also for a number of years as treasurer of the Sunday School. He has been chief of Liberty Hose Company, No. 4, of Schuylkill Haven, and in his fraternal affiliation he is a member of the Junior Order United American Mechanics; of the Royal Arcanum; the Knights of Malta; and others. In his political faith, Mr. Bast is a Republican. It was owing to the activities of the Bast Brothers in connection with Harry Shoemaker, and through their devoted efforts, that Liberty Hose Company No. 4 acquired its fine quarters, the building having been erected at the cost of $4,000, the company having been organized in 1909, and having today a membership of about sixty-five. Mr. Bast is indefatigable in his service for the progress and welfare of the locality, and he is one of the prominent citizens of his district who is held in the highest esteem by his fellows.
Samuel Irvin Bast married, February 21, 1893, at Schuylkill Haven, Jennie Coldren, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Dewes) Coldren, and they are the parents of six children: Lester Samuel; Hazel Elizabeth; May Dewes; Harold Jeremiah; Ethel Coldren; and Christine Coldren.
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